In this portal we would like to be able to send automated emails as reminders for rent payments, allow tenants to view their documents (lease agreements, or payment history), pay their rent online, and allow tenants to create work orders from online.  

I'm looking for some better tools to help me manage the very narrowly targeted direct mail and cold-calling I do, and I'm trying to figure out if I should just automate the spreadsheets I currently use, if I should convert everything into some sort of free/low cost CRM (because I'm really not using it that much, or looking for a lot of functionality right now) or if I should take some other approach.Thoughts?

For example, I purchased a new laptop and have purchased different software to help automate my systems for landlording.  

I have 5 years' experience hosting/owning a top 10 revenue producing property in Nashville (Google Golden Ticket in the Gulch if you would like to check it out) and 12 years' experience as an automation/control systems engineer at an oil/gas firm in Houston.

.- Podio (CRM) setup and how to automate your real estate investment business with Zapier and 3rd party applications- How to pull comps from Zillow, Epraisal, Redfin and CityData all with just the click of a few buttons- How to analyze a deal- And more...

@Kim Hopkins you should be able to automate this.1) Have your PMCs send you CSV files2) Create macros to "translate" each field and merge them into your single P&LSuggest you go on Fiverr or Upwork to hire an Excel expert to create your macro:)

Or, I'm recommending he invests in whatever instrument he can get 12%.  

I can't tell you how many deals I lost because the seller's neighbor, doctor or attorney offered more for the house than I could.With advanced marketing technology/automation tools available to real estate investors + a major inventory shortage I don't think it's ever been more competitive finding wholesale deals.

It takes it to the extreme but is still extremely good at setting up automation systems. 

Plus there are several automation services that make the work easier than ever.Hope that helps.Mike